'®lie jTavmcr^s illcnttJilB^bisitor^ 



147 



111 a single yoke they may be soon taugl.tto load 

 a leain and perform all the operations vvliich a 

 sin"li.' harsi^ can. ., , , , , ■ 



A uoithv old relative ol ours— God lilcss Imji, 

 once trie.) ihis experiment with complete smc- 

 ccss llavin;; lost-one of his steers liy acciilcnl, 

 lir^'cuiK hideii to train the other lo work alone — 

 A.-coramglv he uas put into the single liarness-- 

 heti.re otlie'r oxen— or in the (ills ol a smgle 

 wa"ON. In the horse-cart -lie was hrst rate; am 

 liesoon l.ecame familiar with the saddle aiid 

 hridle, and many ii jiood riile have we had in 

 our younger days, a la mode <k irollenlol, upon his 

 hack. He was no mean C(.ur^•er upon the tiij-l, 

 and if we had him now in his prime, we should 

 not fear m^itchin- him with the hest of the srruh 

 sweep stakes, iUou^h hacke.l and spurred hv the 

 veriest horse jockey, that can l>e lound Irom Kit- 

 (ery to Calais. — Maine Farmer. 



Prenuums"^^d^ by the Merrimack Tonuty 

 Agricultural Society, Oct. 8 and J. 



Bc^l r;u-ni— Pnvid Hlorrill, Cnntcrhury, $-i 00 



'>d do. Bpiijnmiu Wnlkcr, BoscaWLMi, 3 00 



Best opiioral crops- \Vim. H. Cage, " 3 00 



.jj" " Aliram Brown, Northfield, 2 00 



J5,l .' 1,. M. Chndvvick, Boscawen, 1 50 



00 

 2 00 

 1 50 



1 00 



2 00 

 1 50 



1 00 



2 



1 



2 



1 



1 



00 

 00 



00 



50 

 00 

 50 

 01) 

 50 

 1 00 

 50 



.Itli " Silas Call. 



Be?t Wheat— Nathan 1'. Ames, 



2cl " Enoch Little, Jr., '■ 



3 J " .-Vnios Cogswell, Canterbury, 

 Best Cora— Reuben Johnson, 



2d " Asa P. Cale, NortWield, 

 3d " Samuel Chadwick, Boscawen, 

 Best Garden— Jereiniidi Kimball " 



2d " Benj. Simpson, " 



Best Ploughing— Abraham Burbaiik, " 

 2d " .Tolm Farmer, " 



3^ <i George \V. Brown, Concord, 



4lh " Timo'thy C. Rolfe, " 



Best Ploughman— Abiel Rolfe', 



2<j " David Burbank, Boscawen, 



Teamsters— H. Carter, Boscawen, 

 Hazen K. Farnum, Concord, 

 A. P. Burbank, Boscawen, ^ one dollar each, 

 .1. P. Little, " [ if , 



Wni. Burpee, " ) fuiuls snfficicnt. 



Best Working Oxen— Abram Brown, Nortlifield, 

 2(j " Wm. S. Foster, Concord, 



3,1 " Oieo. W. Brown, " 



4t|, '■• David Elliot, " 



Best 3 \ears old Steers, Benj. Fanrnra, Concord 

 2,\ ■ " " A. Burb.ink, Boscawen, 



Belt 2 yr. old Steers— Isaac Hill, Concord, 

 Best Yearlings — Isaac Virgin, " 



Best Bull — .\braUam Burbank, Boscawen, 



2d " Beuj. Faruuui, Concord, 

 Best Milch Cows— Joseph Pillsbury, Boscawen, 



oj << " W. II. Gage, 



Best Mare and Colt— John Greeuough, Boscawen, 1 00 



■ 2d " " Vi'm. II. Gage, ■'" 



Best Bucks— Joseph Barnard, Hopkintcn, 



2d " Wra. Hayes, Saiibornton, 



Best Boar— Wm. S. Foster, Concord, 

 Best Sow and Pigs— Wm. S. Foster, Concord, 

 Best Butter — Benjamin >V hippie, Dunbarton, 

 2d " NVm. II. Gage, 



3d " John A. S:;nhorn, Boscawen, 



4tli " .\bial R. Chandler, 



oth " Benjamin Walker, Boscawen, 



Best Cheese — John Ivilburn, Boscawen, 

 2d " Henry Rolfe, Jr. 

 :!d " Wm." H.Gage, 

 4lli '• Joseph Pillsbury, Boscawen, 

 5th " John A. Sanborn, " 

 Best Needle Work— Mrs. N. B. Baker, Concord. 

 2d " " Mrs. E. P. Cogswell, Bos- 



cawen, 

 Best Quilt— Mrs. Benj. Walker, Boscawen, 



2d " Mrs. .-Vbial Gerrish, " 

 Best Carpeting and Rugs — Nahum Blanchard, 

 Canterbury, 

 2j " " Benj. Walker, Bos- 



cawen, 

 Blankets «nd Flannel— Emily Call, Boscawen, 

 2cl " " Enoch Coliin, " 



3(1 " " Abial Gerrish, " 



fiflv cts. if funds sufficient 

 Best Hose— Susannah Morrill, Canterbury, 

 2d " Jane C. Rolfe, Concord, 

 3d " Joseph Pillsbury, Boscawen, 

 4th " Emily Call, " 



Best Silk Goods— -ibraui Brown, Hopkinton, 

 Best Leather Boots and Shoes— John Greenoug 

 Boscawen, 



Articles of Special Improvement. 

 Mr. Proctor of Franklin, for Plough, 

 Messrs. Brown of Fishersville, for Cambrics, 

 Currier & Ki.ux of Concord, for Stove, 

 S. D. Q,ninibT of Fishersville, for Vest, 



Fr.im th.- iN.w I'.nslauil I^'iinnir. 



Visit to the li-arni of Hon. Daniel Webster, 

 MiirshfieUI. 



We have lieeii pratitied by a visit to the 

 farm of this distiiif^nished statesman, and had 

 the pleasure of holding converse with him as 

 a farmer in his relirement, and who, by his ur- 

 hane and friendly maimer makes one almost 

 forget that he is in the presence of one of the 

 greatest intellects of the age. As a public rimii, 

 be is well known, but not as u ci:izen and 

 "the Farmer of Maishfield"— at hmiie, on his 

 farm, or among his neighbors. Here the iniiid 

 is unbent— the stirring seenr.is of political lileare 

 appari-ntly thrown aside and forgotten, and the 

 (iirmer may approach him on eipial ground, and 

 however experienced he may be in the one jmr- 

 suit of his lite, lie will lind Mr. Webster at home 

 on the subject of agriculture, with a disposition 

 as ready to impart, as lie is to receive informa- 

 tion, on a business which appears to be more Ins 

 pleasure than his profit. Unt if his farming does 

 not result in pecuniary profit, he has the salistac- 

 lioii— which, in a mind like his, is prized far 

 higher than pecuniary gain— of countenancing 

 and encouraging by his example, the great agri- 

 ciiliural interests of the natipn as well as tin; in- 

 fluence he exerts on all suitable occasions to pro- 

 mote them. 



His farm is extensive, and that we might have 

 the best opporlnnity to see every part of it, his 

 foreman with n carriage, was at our service, to 

 take us over it, and explain the various operations 

 and experiments that are in progress. Mr. Web- 

 ster also devoted a portion of the time we fe- 

 inained on the farm in pointing out to us the im- 

 provements he had already made, as well as those 

 he had in contemplation, and related many inter- 

 esting incidents in the history of the family of 

 the original proprietors of his farm, and of events 

 which transiiired in the early history of this an- 

 cient town. 



Mr. Webster's farm contains about//(!cm hxm- 

 dred acres. This large area embraces a great va- 

 riety of soil, about 300 acres of it salt marsh, the 

 remainder very diverse: some jiortions of it may 

 be considered of first quality, other sections me- 

 dium, and sf^me of it rather inferior; but none 

 so poor that good crops cannot be produced 

 with good manuring. The situation is a fine one 

 for a stock farm— and if good prices for good 

 beef and mutton could be obtained, it might be 

 a profitable farm lor that purpose. What adds 

 much to llie value of the place is, the facility 

 with which sea manure can be obtained. It is 

 said that there are seven miles of beach, reckon- 

 ing all the indentures and various outlines of the 

 shore which skirts the farm. Here hirge quanti- 

 ties of kelp are annually obtained, and in some 

 seasons wliite fish to any extent are caugln. With 

 these natural resources so near at hand, the farm 

 is raiiidly increasing in value and productiveness. 



\Vherever these fertilizing substances have been 

 ajiplied their beneficial effect is obvious. A 



iirge portion of the tiirm is devoted to pasturage. 



1 00 



50 



1 00 



50 



! 00 

 75 

 .50 

 25 



1 00 



1 00 



1 00 



1 00 



1 00 



50 



lillf^r: [iv>iLiv>ii vji I . 1^ ....... -^ I ^/ 



wliich feeds not only iMr. Webster's large stoc 



of cattle, but many others of his neighbors, 



which are pasturcd'by the week or by the sea- 



The mansion bouse of .Mr. XVebster makes 

 quite an imiiosing appearance as it is seen from 

 the road, having recently been fitted up and large 

 additions made to the old part, which was origi- 

 nally a square house, luo and a half stories high, 

 with a wing extending back: a wing ccntaining 

 a suit of rooms, including a spacious library, has 

 been added, making an extensive front, with a 

 piazza the whole length, extending round the 

 ends of the luiiiaing and part of the rear. I he 

 old and new parts of the building harmonize ve- 

 ry well. Comfort, convenience and neatness are 

 tiiore cons|)icuous in the arrangement, than any 

 effort at display. The mansion is situated 30 or 

 40 rods from tire public road, and is approached 

 by a broad drive way, bordered by a hedge and 

 belt of trees and slirul).-=. In front of the house 

 is a fine lawn of five or six acres, dotted with 

 trees in groups and single, and ornamented near 

 the dwelling with taacifnl beds of flowers, cut 

 out in the stnootli sward. But the most striking 

 object which meets the eye at first sight, is a ma- 

 jestic elm tree, near the east corner of the house, 

 which forms a complete bower. It stands on an 

 oval grass plot, which makes a fine carpel for the 



bower. .\t a distance of eight or ten feet frotn 

 the ground the branches extend in every direc- 

 tion horizontally, gently curving over till they 

 rest upon the green sward, excepiiiig on the side 

 next to the house, w here it has been necessary to 

 cut out some of the lower limbs, that carriages 

 may [lass to the eastern door. The branches oil 

 this side nearly touch the house, and form a com- 

 plete canopy to this entrance. The longest di- 

 ameter of this tree bower is 94 feet— perhaps 70 

 the other way. Seats are arranged around the 

 tree near the" trunk, where is a most delightfiil 

 retreat, especially in such a day as was that when 

 we enjoyed its shade, the thermometer indicating 

 the heat as near 00 deg. The tree is said to have 

 been planted 80 years ago. 



The section of the farm on which the house 

 stands, contains about 40 acres, and is l)oun<led 

 on three sides by a wide belt of young trees, 

 through which there is a winding walk. In this 

 area are inclndeil the lawn in front; to the west, 

 the orchard ; in the rear, grass, and a large fish 

 pond, ornamented with a boat moored upon its 

 surface, which an apprentice boy, while engaged 

 in painting the bouse, took a fancy to convertin- 

 to a mimic man-of-war; lo the east, an extensive 

 fruit, vegetable, and flower garden, of 3 or 4 

 acres; and beyond this a conical hill, crowned 

 with a summer house. When we visited this 

 farm five years ago, this bill had the appearance 

 of a miserable glavel-knoll, with a few stinted 

 shrubs and trees. It was now covered by a lux- 

 uriant growth of young trees ami shrubs, from 

 10 to la feet high— among them many locust and 

 other trees which had been raised lioni seed,and 

 other species which had l)ecn transplanteil. The 

 belts had been formed in the same way. In rear 

 of the garden, and at the foot of the hill, is an 

 extensive poultry yard, well stocked with every 

 variety of domestic fowls, with a pond for the 

 accommodation of the aquatic tribes. In the 

 rear of the house, at the N. E. angles, are carriage 

 houses, stable and other outbuildings, and a little 

 further back, a large and well-constructed barn. 

 From the piazza of the house, beyond the belt 

 'of trees, and on rising ground, in a westerly di- 

 rection, the eye rests upon extensive fields of 

 erain, roots, &c.; southerly, a sheep pasture, in 

 which we saw the Leicester sheep, and further to 

 the east, woodland. 



The house of the head farmer is seen lo the 

 east, as the visitor enters the avenue to the man- 

 sion, and back of it extensive ranges of cattle 

 yards, piggery and sheds, and another fine large 

 "barn, now' in the process of building, and nearly 

 finished. There is no cellar under the barn, but 

 Mr. Webster has hit upon a method to save every 

 drop of the liquid maiuiie, and in the best [lossi- 

 ble way. The planks composing the floor of the 

 cattle's quarters, or lyre, as the Scotch call it, are 

 laid with an opening between them of about one 

 lialf inch, and so arranged as to be easily taken 

 up. The idea is lo place about two feel of loairi 

 or other earth, under the floor ; ibis will absorb 

 all the liquid part of the manure as it runs down 

 through the openings, and in the spring vyill be 

 converted into the finest manure, when it is to 

 be removed, and replaced by fresh mould. In- 

 stead of having the upper part of the barn tight, 

 he has purposely had it finished with crevices 

 between the boards above the byres, to admit the 

 air ; but the byres are made tight by flattens nail- 

 ed on the inside. Instead of losing all the room 

 over the drive-way, as is the case in barns irener- 

 ally, there is a floo'ring over two-thirds the length, 

 leaving room for a large load of hay on the floor 

 below, a door being provided for the o.xen to go 

 out at the end of llie drive-way, while room is 

 thus made for al least twenty tons of hay more 

 than if the barn was finished in the usual way. 

 Byres are arranged on each side of the drive- 

 way, and yards are being made on each side of 

 the barn, so that the stronger cattle may be kept 

 by themselves, and prevented from injuring the 

 weaker. The yards are so arranged as to receive 

 the sun, and protected by sheds from cold winds. 

 In addition to the two large barns we have men- 

 tioned, we noticed others at distant points from 

 the mansion. 



Manures and Crops.— We have already re- 

 marked that fish and other sea manures were ex- 

 tensively used on Mr. Webster's farm. Of the 

 benefici-il effects of fish and kelp on corn and 

 "i-ass, we were an eye-witness. A field ot 

 corn of fifteen acres, had been divided in- 



